South African skipper, Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The right-handed batsman has played 69 Tests to date.
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The announcement comes as a shock, as du Plessis was in a decent form and led the side well. However, inability to lead his side to the final of the ICC World Test Championship could have been the possible reason for him to hand his boots in the longest format.
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Du Plessis has played 69 Tests and has scored 4,163 runs at an average of 40.03, including ten centuries and 21 half-centuries, while he has a top score of 199. He became the Test captain in 2016, after taking over the reins from AB de Villiers, following the latter's retirement from the sport. Under him, the side had won 18 Tests and lost 15, while it also won 17 of the opening 27 Tests under him.
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Nonetheless, du Plessis would continue to feature in the limited-overs format for the side, besides featuring in the Indian Premier League, where he currently plays for Chennai Super Kings. He would continue to lead the side in the formats and do so in the ICC World T20, scheduled to be held in India, later this year.
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In a statement on Instagram, du Plessis wrote, "It has been a year of refinement in the fire for us all. Uncertain were the times, but they brought clarity for me in many respects. My heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter. It has been an honour to play for my country in all the formats of the game, but the time has come for me to retire from Test cricket."
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"If someone had told me 15 years ago, that I would play 69 Test matches for South Africa and captain the side, I wouldn't have believed them. I stand in a place of utmost gratitude for a test career full of blessings bestowed on me. Every high and low has shaped me into the man I am proud to stand up as today. In all things, those instances worked towards the good of who I believe I am today," he added.
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"The next two years are ICC T20 World cup years. Because of this, my focus is shifting to this format and I want to play as much of it as possible around the world so that I can be the best player I can possibly be. I strongly believe that I have a lot to offer to the Proteas in this format. This does not mean that ODI cricket is no longer in the plans, I'm just making T20 cricket the priority in the short-term. I will be in conversation with CSA over the next couple of months on what the future might look like for me over the next year to find a solution that works for both of us," he continued.
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"For now, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who had an influence on my Test career. I would like to single out my wife and family in particular — I would not have been able to do without their support during the unforgettable journey that Test cricket has taken me on. To my coaches, teammates and support staff over the years, I would also like to give a note of thanks and of course, to Cricket South Africa for the opportunity to be able to represent and lead my country in the pinnacle of the game we all love. It has been an incredible journey, with many stories that I look forward to one day sharing," he concluded.
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